Edmonds-Woodway grad ready to lead UW

His father played soccer for the Seattle Sounders and the University of Washington where he continues to hold 10th place on the UW’s all-time points list.

His sports bio for the UW reminds him he is 17 points away from catching up to his father’s record, but Kevin Forrest said he’s never felt pressure from his dad to follow in his footsteps and play soccer.

“It has to be your own personal desire,” he said. “I’m harsher on myself than he is on me.”

Last week the forward was selected as a preseason candidate for the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy Watch List. He is one of 29 college athletes to be chosen. By November only half of the candidates will become semifinalists. In December three semifinalists will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club, and in January the winner will be announced.

“He’s a threat to score,” said UW soccer coach Dean Wurzberger. “He’s one of those players people move to the edge of their seats to see what he’ll do.”

The Edmonds-Woodway High School alumnus is entering his final season playing soccer for the UW.

“When it’s your last chance, it adds a sense of urgency,” he said.

This season the three-year letter winner and starter will be a co-captain.

“A good one is respected on the field first and is a leader off of the field,” he said.

Past captains have served as positive role models for him.

“I’ve experienced some vocal, social leaders like Mike Chabala who was really personable,” he said.

Other captains were strong leaders more for their athletic skills.

“Ty Harden had respect because he was so good all the time,” he said. “He led in his actions and consistency.”

This fall will be his last quarter at UW. Forrest has two classes left to take before graduating with a degree in business with an emphasis on marketing.

“As a fifth-year senior, I’m ready to move on,” he said.

After graduation, Forrest is interested in pursuing sales, commercial real estate or maybe entrepreneurship.

“I try not to talk about the future,” he said. “You never know, anything can happen.”

However, Forrest isn’t finished playing soccer. He’d like to travel to Europe and try out for teams.

“I have connections with coaches who can get me tryouts there,” he said.

Forrest believes his strengths lie in shooting, passing, getting assists and attacking.

“I love being one on one with the ball and attacking people — it’s my favorite thing to do,” he said.

His love for attacking people led Forrest’s coach to nickname him and his teammate, forward Ely Allen, Thunder and Lightning.

“He’s more willing to stick his nose in there, and I dodge the tackles,” Allen said.

Allen, a senior and American Ethnic Studies major, has played with Forrest for three years.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else up front with me,” Allen said.

In July the two traveled to Columbus, Ohio to train with the Columbus Crew, a Major League Soccer team.

They practiced an hour and a half each day in 100 degree temperatures with humidity.

“I was a little scared on the flight up, but once you get there you adjust and get the butterflies out,” Allen said.

Having the chance to play with other teams builds confidence.

“You play at that level and get to see how your level compares,” Forrest said.

Forrest began playing soccer at a young age.

Growing up, his father, Ward, would ask him, “Do you feel like you have to play because I play?”

“My parents were like ‘You can do whatever you want to do,’” he said.

He tried playing baseball, basketball and steered away from football before choosing soccer.

“I was never a big kid, so I didn’t play football,” he said. “I was better at soccer.”

While attending Edmonds-Woodway, Forrest was a four-year letter, competed in the Wesco playoffs during his junior and senior years and was team captain his senior year.

He chose to play soccer for the UW because of the coaches, the school’s tradition and because his dad played there.

“It was a feeling in my heart,” he said.

His freshman year, Forrest earned honors at the Marquette Invitational All-Tournament Team.

“He had a great desire to make something of himself and blossom,” Wurzberger said.

The next season he was considered Washington’s top offensive threat, finished second in the Pac-10 with goals and goals per game and earned Husky Fever Classic Offensive Most Valuable Player honors.

He was forced to redshirt during his junior year after tearing the tendon underneath his foot.

Despite the injury, Forrest went on to earn the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year award and Offensive MVP of the Husky Fever Classic award a second time. He ranked eighth in the nation in goals per game and 14th in the nation in points per game.

“He wants to go in and make an impact,” Wurzberger said. “That drive is what’s got him through these years.”